[Weekender] Taiwanese desserts gain ground in Korea

Move over macarons and Frappuccinos. Just as Starbucks made coffee drinks a daily essential for millions of Koreans and consumers around the world, authentic Taiwanese desserts are soaring in popularity here. Taiwanese dessert shop 315 Taiwan Cafe located on Teheran Street in Gangnam, southern Seoul (315 Taiwan Cafe)Seoul isn’t exactly home to the most authentic Taiwanese desserts. But if you take a chance and indulge in freshly crafted milk tea and munch on a heated Taiwanese pancake at 315 Tai

July 7, 2017

[Weekender] Bingsu, Korea’s heat-beating ice dessert

If Italy has gelato and France has sorbet, Korea has bingsu. It is a national dessert made of shaved ice, milk and condensed milk, and often topped with sweetened red beans or fruits. It is a dish beloved across generations, chilling their taste buds and slaking their thirst in the thick of summer. After a meal, Koreans like to go to a bingsu store to dive into a bowl of shaved ice, usually with friends or family. While the original “patbingsu” is made of ice, milk and red beans, more varieties

July 7, 2017

Buttermilk Biscuit Co. brings Southern-style eats to Seoul

When Kwon Yong-ki and his brother brainstormed ideas for their new restaurant, the siblings remembered late nights spent chowing down on biscuits in Virginia.“There was a diner inside the grocery that stayed open till five in the morning,” Kwon, 41, recalled of their favorite college haunt when he and his brother were studying in Virginia. “They always had biscuits and gravy. That was our go-to.” The two, now living in Korea, realized how much they missed those biscuits and the idea for Buttermi

June 30, 2017

[Around the Hotels] Promotions and packages

Summer package at Westin Chosun Seoul The Westin Chosun Seoul offers the Urban Oasis accommodation package until Aug. 31. The package features accommodation in the deluxe, executive and junior suites, with prices ranging from 230,000 won to 520,000 won. The executive room package offers access to the executive lounge on the 20th floor for breakfast, snacks and cocktails, as well as the sauna. The junior suite package offers breakfast at the executive lounge or Aria Buffet Restaurant. Various cos

June 30, 2017

[Home Cooking] Tonkatsu (Fried pork cutlet)

Tonkatsu is a panko breaded, deep-fried pork cutlet. Like the curry rice I posted last time, tonkatsu (called donkkaseu in Korea) is another dish that made its way into Korea by way of Japan and became widely popular. The Japanese adapted their version from the West. Pork loin chops are the best cut for tonkatsu. In the markets, you can find pork cutlets that are specifically prepared for tonkatsu with slits all over on the meat. The slits help tenderize the meat and keep it nice and flat when f

June 30, 2017

Grilling? Don’t hold the mayo!

This is the season of outdoor parties and cookouts, as those of us self-professed grill masters and weekend warriors deftly show off our live-fire cooking skills in front of family and friends. That is, until the grill flares up and those beautiful steaks are reduced to charcoal and we’re peeling them off the grill through a cloud of smoke.It’s an all-too-common tragedy played out in backyards everywhere. What if there was an easier way?My challenge was always fish, which would glue itself to th

June 23, 2017

Fresh veggie dinner perfect for a hot summer night

Combine fresh sauteed vegetables with fresh fettuccine for this quick, vegetarian dinner. You can use the vegetables in this recipe, or mix and match any type you have on hand. Use the recipe as a blueprint for the amounts needed.The recipe calls for fresh fettuccine, which can be found in most supermarkets. Dried can be used. Follow the package instructions for cooking time.Helpful Hints:-- Linguine or spaghetti can be used instead of fettuccine.-- Use tongs to easily toss vegetables with pasta

June 23, 2017

[Around the Hotels] Promotions and packages

Summer package at Sheraton Seoul D Cube CitySheraton Seoul D Cube City Hotel is offering a summer package that includes a one-night stay in a Club Room, express check-in at the Club Lounge on the 38th floor overlooking the city, continental breakfast for two and happy hour coffee, tea and snacks. Guests also receive an eco bag with a teddy bear, skincare products and other goodies. The package starts from 290,000 won and runs until Aug. 31. For information and reservation, call (02) 2211-2100.Ja

June 16, 2017

[Home Cooking] Curry Rice

Made with instant curry mix, Korean curry rice is a stew-like curry sauce served over rice. It’s one of those dishes that was introduced to Korea by the Japanese, and has since become a staple in Korean homes. The Korean version of the sauce is generally lighter, which makes it so good eaten with kimchi. It’s a hearty, comfort food we all grew up eating! 　 The instant curry mix makes this dish very easy to make. The curry roux is made with fat, so it has a richer taste and makes the sauce thicke

June 16, 2017

Fresh eats at new Korean deli

If one walks in at the right moment, one will be greeted by the mouthwatering scent of chicken grilling over smoldering charcoal at “Mamalee Market,” a Korean deli that opened in Samseong-dong, Seoul, two months ago. That barbecued chicken, which is basted with doenjang (fermented soybean paste) and grilled to smoky succulence, is one of the most popular eats at this new takeaway spot. Mamalee Market in Samseong-dong offers an array of dishes, from Korean "namul" (vegetable dishes) to salads and

June 16, 2017

[Around the Hotels] Promotions and packages

Filipino cuisine at Millennium Seoul HiltonThe Millennium Seoul Hilton’s flagship buffet restaurant Cafe 395 will introduce Phlippine cuisine prepared by Filipina celebrity chef Michelle Adrilliana until June 13. Adrilliana is renowned in the Philippines for her culinary prowess, working as chef, restaurant consultant as well as ambassador of Filipino cuisine around the world. Adrilliana visited Guangzhou, Sydney and Doha prior to coming to Seoul.Alongside a live cooking station offering beef, s

June 9, 2017

Foreign tourists enjoy Korean food, find some dishes overly spicy: poll

Foreigners visiting South Korea generally enjoyed eating traditional dishes but said some were overly spicy, a poll conducted by a state-run tourism agency said Sunday.According to the Korea Tourism Organization, 66.3 percent of the 974 people surveyed in February said they were satisfied with Korean food, with 31.4 percent saying it was "alright" and 2.3 percent expressing dissatisfaction. (Yonhap)Among those that complained about local food, 46.1 percent cited the spiciness as a problem, with

June 5, 2017

[Around the Hotels] Promotions and packages

Seafood buffet at Sheraton Seoul D Cube CityThe Sheraton Seoul D Cube City Hotel will feature a seafood dinner buffet at its restaurant Feast from June 5 through July 27. The “Shell We Feast” promotion offers freshly steamed seafood throughout the week, including snow crab, king shrimp, scallop, abalone, corb shells, middle mussels, short-necked clams and date mussels. The price starts at 84,000 won per person. Seating is from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday, and fr

June 2, 2017

‘Don’t look back in anger’: Manchester’s musical message to the world

MANCHESTER, England (AFP) -- “Don‘t look back in anger.” The now poignant words of legendary Manchester Britpop band Oasis rang out in a flower-filled square on Thursday, as a grieving crowd broke out in song after a minute’s silence to remember the 22 people killed in Monday‘s suicide bombing. In a city with a proud musical heritage, this was a spontaneous message of defiance from people trying to come to terms with the heartbreaking massacre of innocent young victims who were themselves enjoyi

May 26, 2017

Fiber is under the radar, but still boosts health

Dietary fiber is so 20th century.Important research published and widely publicized in the 1970s, ’80s and ’90s highlighted fiber’s role in reducing the risk of heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, gastrointestinal disorders including diverticulitis, and some cancers -- all while helping to control weight. Save the world with fiber.Here in the 21st century, fiber no longer gets the attention it once commanded -- save for the occasional fiber bar commercial. The spotlight now has shifted to the long l

May 26, 2017

Zenzero churning out small batch gelato

Gelato charmed Kwon Jeong-hye when she was studying Italian cuisine in South Korea.Kwon remembers being initially drawn to the canvas of gelato as a conduit through which flavors could be channeled.  Now Kwon is sharing that charm with shopgoers at the small gelateria she opened with her husband in Seoul. Zenzero -- a gelateria that specializes in artisanal, small batch gelato and sorbet -- opened this March in Seoul‘s Samseong-dong (Photo credit: Park Hyun-koo/The Korea Herald)"I went to learn

May 26, 2017

Rose wines to pop open for spring or anytime

It seems almost unfair to rose to start thinking about it, and talking about it, and looking for it when spring comes around. Then again, how many of us think about turkey and stuffing outside of November? Or corned beef and cabbage outside of March? No one is stopping you from planning those meals on any day of the year, calendar be damned. Yet you don‘t. At least most of you don’t.Did my college roommates and I cook up an entire traditional Thanksgiving dinner one spring semester? Sure we did.

May 19, 2017

[Home Cooking] Snack on ddangkong jorim

This is a simple but delicious side dish that’s made with peanuts. Made similar to kongjang (soy braised soybeans), this braised peanut dish is sweet, sticky, savory and nutty with a pleasant chewy texture. It’s a popular basic side dish.For this dish, use raw shelled peanuts with skins. Around here, we’re lucky to have good quality Virginia peanuts, one of the largest varieties. Raw peanuts retain the skins intact and absorb the sauce better with a softer texture as a result, but you can use ro

May 19, 2017

[Around the Hotels] Promotions and packages

Luxury sedan package at Sheraton Grand IncheonSheraton Grand Incheon Hotel is offering package combining accommodation and rental of a Jaguar XJ Sedan until June 30. Guests can stay at an executive suite, offering a view of the Central Park in Songdo, that comes with breakfast. They can also rent the luxury sedan for driving along the Songdo Coastal Road. The package also features a set of macaron and coffee at the Menagerie bakery inside Shiheung Shinsegae Premium Outlet. Free access to the swi

May 12, 2017

Sleeper hit expands budding burger empire

When Downtowner, a burger spot, first opened in Hannam-dong last year, it was a quiet and uneventful affair. “On our first day, sales were 100,000 won,” said CEO Joon Lee, 36. Lee revealed it took two months for word to spread. Now, people stand in line to get their hands on one of Downtowner’s famous burgers.When a second location opened several weeks ago in Sinsa-dong, there was already a line of people waiting to grab lunch on the first day of business. Word had spread fast. Lee attributes th

May 12, 2017